Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-01-29

THE SHELL FISH COMMISSION.
Bill Introduced at Hartford to
Abolish the Commission-The Petit
ton of the second Regiment to Cam p
at Washington Presented-IAves-
tfgating County Commissioners Re.
eonsfdered-Other Business Trans
acted By she Legislature.
HARTFORD, Jan. 20.
Especial to the JOURNAL AND COURIER
Only short session of the House of Rep
resentatives was held to day. The Senate
yesterday adjourned over to next Tuesday,
and hence held no session to-day. Repre-
sentative Shumway, of Kilingly, to-day pre-
| sented a bill which will interest oystermen.
| 1t provides for the abolishing of the shell
fish commission and appointing instead
State agent fof oyster grounds at salary of
81 1900, including clerk hire and engineering
aid when necessary. and anyone aggrieved at
the action of the agent in assessing oyster
grounds may appeal to the board of relief
The agent is to be appointed by the Gov
ernor. For some months past the oystermen
and taxpayers along Long Island Sound have
been agitating the matter of pstitioning the
legislature to do away with the fish commits
sion. They claim that the greater part of
the available oyster ground has been sub
stantially disposed of, and con sequently
there is no longer a necessity for board of
fish commissioners, and that all the work re-
naming to be done by the State is of such
character that 1t can readily be performed
by one competent executive officer at far
less expense than at present by the commits
sion. Last year it cost the State $13, 1874 for
the maintenance of the commission. It is
the opinion of many of the legislators that
the bill to abrogate the commission will be-
come law.
Representative Mix, of Wsllingford, intro
duced resolution authorizing Governor
Lounsbury to issue orders permitting the
Second regiment, Connecticut National
Guard, to encamp in the District of Column
bia for six days during the month of May,
1887. there to compete in drill with organi-
cations from other States, in lieu of going in
to camp in August. The resolution was re-
fsrred to the committee on military affairs,
who will undoubtedly recommend it. The
boys of the Second are awaiting the result of
their petition to be excused from the camp in
August with much anxiety. It will mean
among a great many of them if the petition
is defeated that they can't go to Washington
as the most Of them are not allowed over a
weeks vacation in the year. The Second
was very prompt in getting its petition before
the House The other regiments have not as
yet presented any.
A proposed amendment to the constitution
was handed in to-day. It provides that the
manufacturing or compromising of and sale
or keeping for sale any intoxicating liquors,
excepting for sacramental, medicinal, scien-
ti6c, mechanical and art purposes shall be
and are hereby prohibited in this State; and
oho11 bo tba Int nf he al atu tn
laws for the enforcement of this article and
that this amendment be continued to the
General Assembly and printed with the
proceedings of this session. The resolution
was referred to the committee on constitu-
tional amendments.
An act relating to the tramp law was in
troduced to-day by Representative Congdon,
of Hartford. 1t provides that every tramp
shall be punished by imprisonment in the
town or county workhouse or Jail. 1t reads:
"Any tramp who shall wilfully or malicious
1y injure any person, or shall be found car
timidate any person, shall be punished by
Imprisonment in the State prison not less
than one year."
A House joint resolution directing the ju
dietary committee to examine the legislation
by which tine income of the ag-
ricultural college fund is paid by the cor
poration of Yale college and to report &C
sentative Broatch, of Middletown, at the re-
quest of ex- Representative Hubbard of Mid
dlefield, who manifests some dissatisfaction
with the defense made by the Sheffield Sci
entifc school of the charges made concern
ing the service which the school rendered
for its share of the fund. The House passed
the resolution.
The main topic of CONVEX sation among the
legislators to-day was the report of the tax
commission submitted yesterday. The
farmers in the legislature talked of but little
else to-day. Their farms will not be taxed
SO much as they are now, at least in the
shape of State tax, if the new code goes
commended be enacted the taxes real es-
tate will not only not be raised as
many supposed, but they will, in fact, be re-
duced. The usual State tax, or grand list,
made up of three quarters more of real
estate, is n mills. If the bills can be
passed, this will be reduced to less than one
mill, thus efecting a direct saving to the
land owners throughout the State. Another
provision recommended by the commission
which will find much favor among the one
hundred and ten farmer legislators, is that
lands and buildings are to be valued separ-
ately, and both are to be revalued st least
once in five years. Buildings seldom, if ev-
er, grow in value, they always depreciate
It is the land that increases. The legisla-
tors coming to the conclusion that the |
land taxes will be reduced instead of increas
ed if the commissions recommendations are
adopted.
Bills and resolutions referred to-day were
as follows:
Bill that the State shall pay only 50 week
for the board of prisoners in jails.
Bill appropriating $4,000 for school fund
deficiencies.
Resolution incorporating the Life and Ad-
vent Camp Meeting association.
Mr.. HYDE, of Hartford (by request), bill to
prohibit drinking of liquor on premises where
sold, except that in hotels and restaurants
patrons may be served at meals.
In behalf of the bill for regulation of Sun
day traffic on railroads; of 800 persons in
Manchester in aid of the bill for protection of
women
Bill giving towns sole control of school dis
tricts and making each town "union school
district"
Bill that after January 1, 1887, all persons
supported by any town having population
of over 2, 500 inhabitants shall be supported
in an almshouse or other place provided by
the town.
Mr.. Gum, of Milford, offered resolution
to secure portrait of Governor Lounsbury; |
passed. L
Mr.. shumway, of KilIingly, moved re-
consideration of the resolution passed yester |
day ordering the raising of a House commit |
tee to investigate the charges against county |
commissioners relative to illegal fees; ordered |
tabled. |
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The Bethlehem election case will come up |
for a hearing next Tuesday afternoon.
The bill prohibiting the killing of par |
tridges and quails for three years comes be- |
fore the agricultural committee Tuesday.
Commissioner Hadley's successor has not |
yet been appointed and there is much dis
cussion as to who that individual will be.
FAIR HAVEN.